Gladestry young people show their support for their at risk village school
Gladestry young people show their support for their at risk village school
Young people living in Gladestry gathered this weekend to show their support for their village school.
They called on decision makers to keep thriving Gladestry Church in Wales open for future generations of young people.
Powys County Council is currently consulting on a proposal to close the school due to a dip in numbers but local young people say that the facilities that will make them want to live and work in the area should be kept open.
Gladestry is a rural community and numbers have fluctuated since the school was opened in 1877.
Gladestry continues to run within budget and is used by Powys County Council as an exemplar of best practice.
Estyn inspections have consistently recognised its excellence describing "a happy and thriving learning community” with a "nurturing ethos" where “standards of behaviour are excellent and the care and empathy that pupils show to each other is exceptional”. (ESTYN 2023)
Those gathered reminisced, one explained ‘The council is saying that learning in mixed aged classes puts children at a disadvantage but we all disagree. We learned from and were supported by one another to always do our best, we looked up to the big ones who helped us and then became the big ones ourselves helping the others’.
Another described their experience of going to the school as idyllic. “I want that for my own children too, being able to walk to school, learn Welsh, hold services in the church, explore the countryside on welly walks. A small school has so much more to offer than it seems on the outside. It feels like a family.
“We always described ourselves as small but mighty. We always did well because we weren’t ever frightened that we wouldn’t. I think that is because we always looked out for each other. Small can be mighty!”.
Past parent Dr Lauren Parry moved into the area because of Gladestry school. She said; “Powys is facing the challenge of an ageing population. We need young people here and young people need schools.
“Proposing to close one of their most successful schools is not only short sighted, it flies in the face of their own call for a 'Greener, Fairer, Stronger Powys'. We need young people to feel that they have a place in our county and staying here to work and to start their own families is valued.”
The consultation on the proposed closure ends on Monday, October 26.
To have your say please respond before October 26 by email to; [email protected] or by letter to: The Transforming Education Team, Powys County Council, County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, LD1 5LG
Visit https://en.powys.gov.uk/article/22937/Gladestry-Church-in-Wales-School to view the consultation pack and respond
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